dec 2008- the one where they all turn 2...probably.

[VagolaJahooli]

Sorry bit boring I know but I didn't want to make any reference to spot as I don't want to jinx her and have her baby come early, then it would be my fault. Also didn't want the mad rush at the end of the thread. This way we've had plenty of time.

Aahh winter wonderland, I thought you were all going to weight watchers, I was wondering why you were all having trouble with the dates.

Ha ha. I might benefit more from Weight Watchers than Winter Wonderland.

DD1 has been calling me Ali all morning. It's really annoying. She interperses "Lady" with a bit of "Mummy" now, and has done ever since I had D. I think she must have decided she'd better stake a claim but she has obviously heard me call Alistair "Ali" and has decided it's a just an everyday name for a parent

I think Rubes and I were also up for a trip to Brighton on the 2nd? Spot are you around then?

I've got 2nd as Brighton visit if that is ok with anyone up for it. Not that it looks like we'll be here much longer. DP has essentially just broken down on me and said he can't do it here any more. So it looks like we will move back after all. I think the house not working out has been the last straw.
Luckily T is physically on the mend though he has picked up on our atmosphere today (had big row last night, I slept on the sofa and we haven't said a word to each other until half an hour ago) and it has made him v unsettled.
I need to go and wake him now but I will be back later.

Hello all and hello new thread!

Goodness the birthdays are starting already...! We're having a small do for dd, mostly to get the godparents together again as they're slightly spread out and it's nice to get them all in one room :) plus a few nipper friends (SL you'll get an emailed invitation imminently).

WG the whole measuring thing is such a mystery. After my 1.5 hours wait at the hospital for AN appointment I got looked at very quickly by a specialist who applied tape measure to tum and said You're measuring absolutely bang on for dates. So why all the stress over the baby's big tummy, I asked myself... BUT anyway the point is, I measure round and weigh the same at 27 weeks as I did at 34 weeks with DD1, so how does that work? If the old fundal height is the same? I don't really get the physics of it all. But anyway, I'm sure the chasing after toddler + feeding newborn combo will help with the weight coming off.

oh and the domestic blindness - I think all men have it to a certain extent. DH is very good at doing the washing up but will always always ignore the teapot which sits with yukky tannin staining it for days. And his laundry goes on the floor next to the laundry basket but yet is obsessive diligent about cleaning the cooker, and even gets cross when the cleaner leaves it not up to his exacting standards.

spot really sorry to hear about the house problem, that does sound a bit of a downer, working form home + sound of nursery doesn't seem ideal :(

beans you and your man are insatiable, it's not right I tell you but what an awesome nickname, we now MUST meet him and all point and giggle behind our hands.

Vag hurrah for your house success, hope you manage to get everything sorted and settled soon.

Lady well done for surviving the commuter train, if anyone can do it you can! This winter wonderland thing sounds like top fun.

I can;t believe there's still 3 months to go for this baby, I'm feeling so huge already and physically everything is such an effort. Moan moan. Poor dd has a new verse in her song which is Mummy on the bike goes Puff puff puff She is very lovely though and kisses my tum lots which is v endearing. Just hope she's ok when the baby comes out and is in her house...

sorry spot lovely xposted. Maybe back to London would be for the best if things aren't working out as you'd hoped.

Unbelievable - after spending yesterday afternoon giving me unsolicited parenting advice - I ask mother in law to watch ds for 5 MINS and she turns on the tv and reads the paper!!!

Big at iphone predictive text. I'm pretty sure you'd have had to type it once though
Lady, firstly you looked fabulous yourself, and I have had child out TWICE as long as you - remember that. Secondly, There's fat there I can assure you. the scales tell me but most of all my clothes do. You will notice that everything I had on was stretchy, and heels well, I'm huge on heels and they also elongate and give the illusion of being slimmer. But seriously you have made me feel good, very good. So big hug for you. Oh and until the bleeding stops your hormones won't have settled so it will not be as easy to balance things and you'll have tons of fluid still - truly, I found it easier after my cycle came back. Right I have just saved the WW thread. Glad you got your mattress sorted, sorry about that hideous train ride - sounds worse than mine. And that tantrum of O's in JM was average seriously, Ben used to (and I use the term "used to" lightly) do much worse. it would have been spectacular if she got out of the buggy and wiped out a few glass bottles though - then I'd have been impressed!

Summer- yes well she's JUST still in the Cocoon (she's very nearly too long for it) In fact the other day I put her in the back seat for the first time with a padded insert to prop her up a bit more. Yes I've got the sleeping bag / foot muff thing but will probably need to buy another now as I've just had the one when i used it as a single. How about you?

Spot I'm so sorry about all your troubles and now with the house and DP. I hate to sound all cliche and wotnot but maybe it IS all happening for a reason and you just aren't meant to stay there?

Just going to post this as I've just had chimney sweep man here nad dh is sick in bed and it's gone a bit mental so i fear I'll lose this if I don't press post!

Oh Avo can I just say, I cannot stop laughing!! That's got to be DC comment of the century! So has someone else put a seed in there?

My pleasure Rubes, I meant it. I do like heels myself but they would have been a bridge too far with DD2 in the sling etc. I think the booze and coffee I drink won't help the fluid retention But not long to shed a few pounds for the Chambers Christmas Party on Dec 11...

Spot - I'm very sorry you have this worry about where you are going to live, especially at the mo. How unsettling. But if your DP is that miserable there, it is going to make your relationship untenable if you stay...And if you do have to move, your lovely friends in Brighton won't be far. I hope things seem brighter soon. I mean, you like London at least, don't you?

JJ, if your DD is that positive about her baby sis whilst she is still in the womb, I think that bodes v well.

How can Jam have gone up to Scotland without confirming whether her DH does or does not mop the surfaces with his pants? I won't be revealing any classified info about DP, he would brain me, but I WILL tell you that he does naff all cleaning around here. If he manages to put a mug in the dishwasher or not leave his discarded socks on the floor I am pleased. However, on the v rare occasions he has done any housework, he is much quicker and more efficient at it than me. Huh. I have zero patience with any physical tasks though. Lots of patience with people, no patience with 'things'. Hence my inability to cook/sew/drive.

DP asked me if I'd bought him a birthday cake for tomorrow. I have not. I didn't think we did cakes, I certainly don't recall having one before. So he has bought his own iced number and some candles to go on it! Poor bloke.

I agree Lady. dd in a sling plus a dd in a buggy would have been quite a task in heels! My heel wasn't very much though, and those boots are quite comfy so they'd have been ok.

Our dinner party canceled. DH felt sick last night then rode to work for the morn and felt a state when he got home. Very fluey and all that. he said he wasn't going to dinner if he felt like this at 6pm. I said well we need to tell them now, not wait and see how you feel as she goes to a lot of trouble. we were still having the convo when the doorbell rang and they wanted to know what ds would want to eat - I felt awful when I told her since we hadn't got over there to tell her first and I feel terrible as it looked really rude, but dh is still asleep so he's pretty ill. I think he's been overdoing it for way too long.

On housework, I've been through all that with dh. I like to be tidy and he's his mothers son that's for sure he has been worked on a lot, lot's of experiments, lots of nagging, that sort of thing and has improved ten fold but still a long way to go folks. I put it down to just men though. And that's ok if he keeps bringing in the funds as he's fairly good considering. The worst habit is just leaving stuff around especially leaving shoes around - drives me nuts. And clothes on the floor next to the bed etc. But he does put laundry on and unloads the dishwasher unprompted occasionally, and usually puts the bins out etc. I prefer to do the laundry though really, as he shoves everything in the dryer and shrinks stuff if I don't watch him. He's very good at garden tidy stuff.

WG all your comment made me feel was Jeez we drink a lot! Not a chance we could wait until weeks end with all our bottles under the sink! What a crack up. They wouldn't all fit! Clearly total piss heads.

Right looks like a solo night of Xfactor and Strictly for me.

Oh I meant to say, I was thinking of you Deids. Glad it went ok and you sound in good spirits. Join me in an eve of Reality trash won't you? And Jam are you in tonight?

Right kids are bathed, fed, and need to be in bed if only the bloody Tomliboos would hurry up and get of the damn ninky nonk we could action a bit of Adult time. Oh God now makka pakka's arrived and ds is dancing on the couch....great

I feel bad complaining about DH because he does do a lot, and def brings home the Bacon. He is an obsessive stove cleaner also JJ. BUT, he does leave shoes and socks in random places around the house even though we have a shoe rack near the door, if he works at the table he manages to spread himself out and have crap everywhere, for someone who works just with 2 laptops he manages to spread himself out. No idea what all his cables are for, SL why do IT people always have so many cables. DH literally has bags of them in our backroom, which he never needs but he might so he Keeps them. But as I said he is really good otherwise does more than his fair share of parenting and has just now managed to completely clean the glass plate thing in the convection oven. I just assumed it woukd never be clean again, but he saw it as a personal challenge.

We're going to a Christmas market near the German & Belgium borders tomorrow. It's in some tunnels under a castle.

Dh very good round th house - though he does have his blind spots. But BLOODY HELL THE CABLES!! You are so right vag. It's so annoying. Mil is having a big clearout of her house and asked if dh wanted anything. When we got home I found he'd smuggled more bloody cables back from her clearout pile!!!

I hear that cable thing Vagooli. DH is not an IT guy (but dabbles in all that techy stuff in spare time) however cables upon cables always everywhere. And then, he keeps buying them. Just today, a package came through the door and I got a little bit giddy thinking it was some random purchase I'd bought on eBay for me or dc's that I'd forgotten about, but no, a cable - no idea. Fortunately he also has an obsession with hiding cables. Ie if there's a TV on the wall he gets major anxiety if any cables or leads are showing. All the audio visula stuff is in a cupboard (now called the audio visual cupboard ) and thanks God, as i can't stand that either, but why can't he be so tidy with domestic stuff? If I was away for a couple of days I could retrace his every move in the house. And when he buys new techy stuff in boxes he opens it all like it's Christmas and then leaves the box, the contents and the bubble wrap etc everywhere. All strewn across the table.... Oh well. I could go on, but I think I've crossed the line into too many ramling posts this evening..

right - time to watch a delayed Strictly.

Oh rubes you made me laugh with your iggle piggle moan there!

Ooh I wish my dh had the cable hiding obsession. That's cool! Not that I can complain as i don't know how to hide the cables either !

Rubes I am in awe of your ability to get both kids into bed at anything before 8.30. How do you do it?! Sorry to hear about your DH, I can see that would be a bit embarrassing with the neighbours but it sounds like he's in the best place. I'm in for the Strictly/X Factor chat. I know I need to talk to DP about what we're doing but I'm so emotionally drained I can't deal with much more than what the hell Ann Widdecombe's going to come up with this week.

Lady I'm glad you and Rubes had a good time, tantrums notwithstanding. Your DP is being very good and un-diva-ish about his birthday, it sounds. You're right about London, I do have friends there and am not against going back, I will just hugely miss the good friends I've made here, and T is so settled. Plus things are simpler here. And I think we'd struggle to afford anything half decent in an area that's not next to a sink school, etc, etc. But that's for DP to research - I think I'll say that I am up for it, but impose some pretty stringent conditions re-garden, decent childcare in the area etc...

SL your MIL is a right piece of work. . Is this it for a while for her visits?

JJ that's lovely about DD and the new baby. And fair play to you for still getting on your bike (Tebbit style?) at this stage. This baby is kicking like crazy, he is so desperate to come out. I can't believe it's going to be here so soon, but I guess if we're going to be in the rental for a while longer, we should unpack a few boxes . Does anyone know where you can get decent plastic storage boxes (for toys and the like) that don't break too easily? I think we might just get a dozen and buy something nicer when we finally go somewhere else.

Vag forgot to say big congrats on the house, that's great news

Oh and you should see our flat. it's totally wired up with Cat5?? Cables throughout - what the hell? Our tenants we've had in there wouldn't have a flippin clue.... but then again, he did do it for us, and then we had to move. Hopefully he does that again when we buy another house
You wouldn't know we rent at the moment. we've built a deck, certified the chimney, made an audio visual cupboard, and dh has been pulling up floor boards as he is in the process of hooking up surround sound - I'm pumped for X-factor He's a star, so I let him off the cleaning thing these days
Right time for a cheerful adult beverage then I'll shut up, I promise.

Yay ok I'll check in a bit a rambling X-factor thread pal! Spot, I hope (if you decide to move back) that you are not too far? if it's London itself, can it be the West side at least? (Sorry Effie and PD)
Oh Spot, ds has been going to bed at 7pm since he was dd's age (as she is now) so it's just habit really and he's knackered by then. We did do a bit of the Super Nanny strategy in his young baby days and let him cry / go back not talk etc (dh a bit hard arsed like that) and all that, but I truly think we are lucky in that he does like his sleep and his bed too, but he has been consistantly forced to bed at 7pm (unless we are out) since day dot really, and now he wants to go then (well usually) I think he's just use to the routine, but he's been waking up at 6 so we get it at the other end. We've got the nappy problem still too where he soaks it and it overflows and wakes him up I think. he's also started not eating much breakfast and screaming in the morning until he gets milk and then he wants a REFILL before he'll have maybe half a piece of toast and that's it. The milk has been cut in half (as of tonight) to try and avoid this nappy overflow problem. it's grim, and I'm tired of washing sleepsuits, his duvet and sheets! And I'm not giving in to his morning milk demands anymore! (but I jut get so tired in the morns!) I will make an effort tomorrow though and get up and try and make him have breaky without milk

Are any of you ladies doing Christmas pantos in London? Would love to take the boys to one while we are there. And I know it would be difficult in that week before chrissie but any chance of a free night to pop out for a cheeky pre Christmas drink with this vagetable.

Vag - I am up for trips to town with my 3 or you are very welcome here. V easy from London Bridge or Brixton (Vic line). Can you PM me your london address so I can send the big pile of stuff I have had for you and your boys which hasn'[t quite made it to the PO yet.....

X factor now. Back later.

nb only read Vag's last post but will be back to catch up on the day's news after X factor. Dermot - I know hes short but I SO would....

I should hope so Sybs as that had an unacceptably low rambling factor - right back to the XFactor.

nb - not referring to the Dermot part Sybs I'd rather stoink my chimney sweeper

Checking in mid X Factor. Dermot is just toooooo short. And Simon is identical to my half brother. So no totty for me.

Only Matt has been okish so far. The rest have been crap (Cher and One Direction) or dull (Rebecca).

Back later. DH serving up a gorg looking chilli con carni with homemade guacomole. Yum!